PennDesign CPLN760 Public Realm Studio Book - Spring 2021 by Yilin Ren

PENNSPORT WATERFRONT

CPLN 760 Public Realm Studio Spring 2021

Pier 68 Park

INTRODUCTION PROBLEMS

INVESTIGATION

What is the 21st century urban third place? Typically, the third place (the place that follows home and work as a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1989 in his book The Great Good Place) fulfills our human needs for socialization, brings our communities together, and allows us to flourish as a society. These are spaces we choose to occupy and revsit again and again. In an urban context, third places and public realms are often interchangeable.

Central to the investigation will be a redesign of the Boulevard, integration of a SEPTA Transit Hub, and how planned multi-site redevelopment of both public and private land can create a vibrant third place for the riverfront district. The studio will envision a high performing and resilient public realm that is culturally representative of Philadelphia. This will require a rethinking of current systems which may include, but are not limited to, transportation systems (trails, streets, transit, and highways), open space and natural systems (parks, plazas, and stormwater infrastructure), and community systems (housing, commerce, civic uses, and community). This studio is intended for interdisciplinary study, providing opportunities to explore urban ecologies, stormwater infrastructure, wetland restoration, land economics, future mixed use development and incorporation of industrial legacies, new forms of mixed-use architectural typologies, and renewable energy and other sustainable technologies.

Outside of the urban core, big-box stores, retail chains, and auto-oriented districts that prioritize consumerism detach us from our context, culture, and community. A result of Euclidean zoning, the separation of uses create spaces that lack vibrancy, exacerbate sprawl, limit housing supply, and intensify spatial inequity. For this studio, students are asked to address these issues and reimagine existing autooriented urban retail properties along the Delaware Riverfront. In doing so, they will reconsider the public realm and its role as the third place through three lenses: performance, resilience, and culture. Now more than ever, the collection and application of data to optimize, enhance quality, and improve adaptability through smart city principles allows for the absorption, recovery, and preparation for future uncertainty. Urban resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and thrive regardless of the kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience. Resilient cities promote sustainable development, well-being, and inclusive growth that celebrates our collective social behaviors, norms, and habits. Through each of these lenses, the studio will address relationships between policy, planning, design, and the need for social and environmental equity.

Ultimately, the studio will aim to address the following questions: What is the strategy for resiliency? What are the scenarios we can predict? How can the public realm address the shifting behaviors of a post-pandemic society? How will the public realm respond to the next shock to society? How will the riverfront remain an asset accessible to all Philadelphians? What makes the public realm equitable?

Pier 68 Park

MEET THE STUDIO Master of City Planning Program Urban Design Concentration Cohort

Claudia A. Aliff

Studio Instructors

Yilin Ren Nando Micale

Benita Lily Cheng

Stewart Scott

Shao-an Chiu

Kuangyi Tu

Nando is an architect and urbanist with 35 years of professional planning and design experience and 25 years leading MCP studios at UPenn. Nando is one of the nation’s leading professionals in the planning and design of mixed-income communities, with successful neighborhood transformations in 16 states.

Danielle Lake

Pat Connolly

Dian Yu

Junwon Kim

Tianshu Zhang

As an urban designer with more than ten years of experience in the architecture and planning field, Danielle’s interests lie in the intersection of social impact and public space, where the built environment supports belonging, equity, and justice. As a graduate of the MCP program, Danielle has been thrilled to co-teach her first studio at Penn with Nando and work with this group of thoughtful and talented students.

Christopher Columbus Boulevard

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to thank the following people for their help with this studio project

Karen Thompson Director of Planning, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC)

Frederick Steiner Dean, University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design

Betsy Mastaglio Manager, Office of Transit, Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning at Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)

Lisa J Servon Department Chair, Department of City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design

Michael Miller Associate, OLIN

Marilyn Jordan Taylor Professor of Architecture and Urban Design / Former Dean, Weitzman School of Design

Ian Litwin Central District Planner, Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC)

Erick Guerra Associate Professor / Associate Chair, Department of City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design

Stephanie Chiorean Staff Scientist, Philadelphia Water Department (PWD)

Zhongjie Lin Associate Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design

Josh Lippert Assistant Director, Managing Director Office: Floodplain Manager, City of Philadelphia Jessie Buckner Ecologist, Resource Environmental Solutions LLC Michael McGraw Senior Wildlife Biologist, Resource Environmental Solutions LLC Emily Galfond Designer, Studio Ludo

Julie Donofrio Managing Director, PennPraxis, Weitzman School of Design Matthijs Bouw Associate Professor of Practice / McHarg Center Fellow for Risk and Resilience, Weitzman School of Design Marcinkoski, Christopher A Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Weitzman School of Design

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE 01 Introduction 03 Meet The Studio 05 Acknowledgment

EXISTING CONDITIONS 10 12 14 16 17 18 20 22 25

Site Boundary History and Demographics Water Risks Zoning and Land Use Ownership Building Typologies Transit Access and Traffic Jobs and Assets A Vision for the Pennsport Waterfront

FRAMEWORK PLANS 28 30 34 38

Introduction Boulevard In Place Boulevard Reconfiguration New Hierarchical Network

43 PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS: BOULEVARD IN PLACE 44 Stewart Scott

51 PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS: BOULEVARD RECONFIGURED 52 Shao-an Chiu 58 Kunagyi Tu and Yilin Ren 64 Dian Yu and Tianshu Zhang

71 PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS: NEW HIERARCHICAL NETWORK 72 Claudia A. Aliff 78 Benita Lily Cheng and Pat Connolly 84 Junwon Kim

Delaware River Trail

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SITE BOUNDARY As part of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) has identified three priority sites for development of the Master Plan, the southernmost of which includes the selected site for this studio. The area of focus runs along the Delaware riverfront from Dickinson Street to the north, Snyder Avenue to the south, and Front Street to the west. The site interfaces with adjacent new residential development to the north along the river, the port facilities to the south, and the existing Pennsport neighborhood to the west. The main properties include the power center at Columbus Crossing and a variety of single tenant/big box commercial properties and strip retail centers along Christopher Columbus Boulevard.

Figure 1 Mifflin Street, Under I-95

I-95 separates the site from Pennsport, and the surrounding land to the east of the highway includes big box stores, industrial buildings, and the Port directly to the southeast.

Figure 2 Big Box Stores within the site boundary

Figure 3 Site Boundary: Aerial View

Figure 4 Site Boundary

HISTORY The study area is located outside the original planned portion of Philadelphia, but by 1843 development reached the northern border in the form of the Navy Yard. By the late 19th century, the Old Southwark Canal extended west from the Delaware River along current day Mifflin Street, and railroads appeared by 1895. By the early 20th century, residential neighborhoods extended to the west, while the banks of the river were mostly industrial. Common industries included oil and sugar refining, and Philadelphia was at one time one of the largest sugar refineries in the world. Several railyards serviced the area and continue to exist today. The first design for an expressway along the Delaware River appeared in the 1930s but it was not until the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act that the project moved forward. Designed as part of a planned loop, I-95 was intended to link the city’s riverfront with its factories and airport to form a conveyor belt around Center City, as well as bring people in from suburbs. Construction began in 1959 and was completed by 1979. Protests continued throughout construction as thousands of homes were demolished, and the Pennsport neighborhood was cut off from the waterfront. By the late 20th century, many industrial uses had left, and vacancy was high along this portion of the waterfront. In 1992, the study area was completely cleared to entice new development. The current big box stores and large surface parking lots were constructed in 1995, and the southern portion was developed as a strip mall by 2002. These conditions continue today.

Figure 5 https://www.philageohistory.org/ Figure 6 https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/i-95/#17595 Figure 7 Google Earth

Figure 5 Common industrial uses in 1910

Figure 6 Construction of I-95 in 1960s

Figure 7 Cleared site in 1992

DEMOGRAPHICS Younger Adults (22-39) Since the site is mostly commercial land-uses, three adjacent residential census tracts in the Pennsport neighborhood are chosen for demographic analysis. The race and ethnicity structure of Pennsport is very different from the structure of Philadelphia. Pennsport is over 80% white, mostly of Irish origin, while only 7% of the neighborhood is African American. Compared to Philadelphia, Pennsport is a much younger neighborhood with over 38% of the population identifying as younger adults, and it has a higher percentage of non-family households. Compared to the median household income of Philadelphia at approximately $40k, Pennsport has a significantly higher median household income at $58k. Considering future population trends, in 2030 Philadelphia will still have a large group of younger adults, but the population of elderly will also increase dramatically. Implementing innovative programs for young adults and ADA accessible programs for elders is critical to the future development of the study area.

Pennsport 38.6%

Philadelphia 29.5%

Figure 9 Percentage of Younger Adults (22-39)

Non-Family Households

2018 US Census

Pennsport 50.2%

Philadelphia 46.6%

Figure 10 Percentage of Non-Family Household

Reed St. Tasker St. Mifflin St.

2018 US Census

Snyder Ave. 2020

Figure 8 Demographic Analysis Census Tracts

Figure 9 2018 US Census Figure 10 2018 US Census Figure 11 US Census; Kuangyi Tu and Yining Zhang

Figure 11 Population Projection of Philadelphia 2030

WATER RISKS The Delaware River shoreline has changed dramatically when industrial uses were established. Prior to industrialization, there was a smooth gradient from upland to river that was covered by different habitat zones based on elevation. When factories and transportation uses moved south from Center City, the once smooth natural edges were transformed into a hard ones. Piers were built and channels were periodically dredged so they were deep and wide enough for the safe movement of ships.

Figure 12 Site topography before industrial developments

Figure 13 Site topography after industrial developments Figure 12-13 Presentation from Michael Miller, OLIN

Looking into the future, the waterfront area will face flood issues. The map on the right visualizes the community-level impacts from coastal flooding and sea level rise. The 100 year flood covers the southern part of the study area, but it does not cover most of the northern part because the land was elevated as part of the big box store development. However, the majority of the study area is within the 500 year flood. The map also shows a sea level rise scenario of 6 feert above average high tides. The south part of the study area will be more prone to flooding as sea level rises.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 14 Map of sea level rise & flood risk

ZONING & LAND USE

ZONING

PAVED LANDSCAPE

Euclidian and exclusive zoning of the riverfront has made it an auto-oriented commercial and industrial district. The site is mired by large building footprints and even larger parking lots. The zoning map below shows that the site is currently zoned for commercial and industrial uses. While more parcels are zoned commercial use in the northern part of the site, there are also large industrial areas in the southern part.

The area is a destination of city-wide shopping center of big box stores, and these commercial properties have lots of impermeable pavement on the riverfront, in use of large surface parking spaces for the customers. Looking at the map below, around the site, only the spaces around Washingto Avenue Green, which is a developed ecological park near Washington Avenue, are not paved with impermeable pavement.

On the other side of I-95 lies Pennsport. Snyder Avenue and Oregon Avenue are two major commercial streets in South Philadelphia.

These uninviting, overly-paved streetscapes are not appropriate public realm to attract people to the waterfront. They also make the site lack capacity to manage water from large storm events.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 15 Zoning map

Figure 16 Hard-paved area

OWNERSHIP OWNERSHIP PATTERN

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Ownership patterns demonstrate who controlls a neighborhood’s built environment and how that might shape building a successful framework for the waterfront district. First, when we look at the ownership patterns of the Pennsport area, the site has little publicly owned land. They also show the corporate monopoly on land ownership along the waterfront. For example, most of the parcels on the river are corporately owned by entities such as Home depot, Target, and Walmart, and their large building footprints and car-oriented landscapes significantly hinders waterfront accessibility. Therefore, to realize the full potential of the neighborhood and create a more people-focused public realm for the district, the waterfront district should have a diverse ownership pattern that will ideally foster a more human-scale experience and attract community-oriented programs along the waterfront.

For the development process, we investigated several variables to understand which parcels can be easily developed. First, we investigated the open space ratio that shows where it could be done by infill development without demolishing the building or affecting the neighborhood at a significant level. Next, we analyzed the stakeholders that have multiple adjacent parcels. For example, parcels owned by Target can be easily divided or combined so that the development of the framework can be negotiated in the short-term. Lastly, we researched to find any waterfront parcels owned by the client, DRWC, the City of Philadelphia, or any other public agency. From the analysis, we deduced which parcels could be in the first phase of the development and be in the core public realm framework.

Reed St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 17 Ownership pattern

Figure 18 Divided Parcels with Same Ownership

BUILDING TYPOLOGY The building conditions in Pennsport is quite diverse, ranging in an array of architectural styles, eras, and materials. The neighborhood fabric of Pennsport creates a very intimate pedestrian experience, as the neighborhood is mostly comprised of narrow one-way streets, and the rowhomes that make up almost the entirety of the neighborhood fabric create a consistent but diversified street wall and an engaging pedestrian experience.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Figure 19 Index Map

Figure 24 https://philly.curbed.com/

Figure 20 Building Typologies in Pennsport

East of I-95, the site is a mix of old industrial buildings, single story strip malls, and big box retail situated on large lots. Because these buildings are made inexpensively, there is enormous potential for redevelopment.

There is considerable development activity happening along the Delaware River waterfront including directly north of the study area, comprising of a mix of multifamily and retail new construction. The projects in progress currently are part of a larger network of public and private investment happening all along the Delaware River waterfront.

Figure 21 Food Products Company

2 5

Figure 22 Big Box Commercial Property

3 6

Figure 23 Large Surface Parking Space

Figure 24 New Waterfront Developments near the site

TRANSIT ACCESS & TRAFFIC The map below shows the circulation and its hierarchy in this area. And looking at the map on the right, SEPTA runs bus services along all major commercial corridors, including Columbus Boulevard, and numerous routes terminate at the Pier 70 commercial area nearby, where the DVRPC is contemplating a new transit facility. There are conventional bicycle lanes along Columbus Boulevard with connections to Washington Avenue and Snyder Avenue, and the southern section of the Delaware River Trail runs along the waterfront between Washington Avenue and Pier 70 Boulevard. However, the existing bicycle infrastructure is not always convenient or comfortable since there is little protection from fast moving traffic along Columbus Boulevard. Based on the report of DVRPC, there is high ridership at Pier 70, indicating that tourist and recreational trips are generators of transit ridership. Ridership peaks at tourist and recreational destinations that serve the corridor.

Figure 26 Existing bus stop at Pier 70

Figure 27 Fading bicycle lane along Columbus Boulevard

Figure 25 Current vehicular circulation Figure 26-28 DVRPC_South Philadelphia Transit Center Report

Figure 28 Delaware River Trail

Figure 29 Existing bus routes

JOBS Very few jobs within the study area are worked by those living in the area - of about 3,500 jobs, only about 71 people are both employed and living in the study area, and about 4,000 people are living the area but employed outside of it. Although Leisure & Hospitality are the main sources of jobs (52%) within the study area, these only make up about 17% of the jobs worked by those living in the study area - a disproportionate amount compared to 20% for Philadelphia overall.

While a decent number of people in the study area work locally but outside the area, there is still room for encouraging even greater local employment opportunities, particularly within the study area. Overall, the study area is mainly a source of employment for those outside of it. In considering the future of commercial use in the district, it is worth keeping this area as a retail center for the larger Philadelphia region, while also strengthening other services that might allow those living in the study area to work closer to home, and strengthen and diversify the economy of the Pennsport neighborhood.

Figure 30 Residents’ Jobs percentage distribution

Figure 31 Job Distribution in Study Area Figure 30-32 2018 Census Tract

Figure 32 Diagram

ASSETS The site has the proximity to four major nodes in the city while the site itself is also an important destination for commercial activities. Besides commercial assets, the site also contain waterfront assets such as the proposed South Wetlands Park by OLIN (https:// www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/planning/projects3/ south-wetlands-park-project). Snyder Avenue is one of the main arteries in South Philadelphia and connects many community assets, from schools and churches to playgrounds and recreational centers. Pennsport and the land to the south contain cultural assets like the Mummers Museaum, BOK Art Workspace, Whitman Library, and the SS United States among others.

The map below shows the density of public elementary schools. The circles are a quarter mile and half mile service radii to show the area within a 5- to 10-minute walk. Notice there is only little overlap with our site. If there are new residents going to live in the site in the future, once the new waterfront community is formed, the supply for green spaces and community services should be considered. Although currently the site is mainly used for commercial activities, there are a few residential developments being proposed near the waterfront and the site, which presents the opportunity to think about bringing more community services and neighborhood gathering spaces to the site.

Reed St. Tasker St. Mifflin St. Snyder Ave.

Figure 33 Asset map

Figure 34 Service radii of public elementary schools

Pennsport Neighborhood: S 2nd Street & Mifflin Street

A VISION FOR THE PENNSPORT WATERFRONT After we analyzed ten topics of existing conditions, we identified a vision in five parts for the Pennsport waterfront district.

1. Reimagine the district as one that re-connects the waterfront to Pennsport and Philadelphia at large through mixed-use, walkable development. 2. Establish a dense, walkable community with access to local and regional multimodal transportation networks. 3. Reconnect and expand Pennsport by reducing auto dependency and connecting beyond the highway. 4. Create a more diverse commercial and economic environment through mixed-use development. 5. Bring back a more resilient waterfront through symbiotic living of human and nature.

Christopher Columbus Boulevard

FRAMEWORK PLANS

INTRODUCTION

Figure 35 Current Circulation

Figure 36 Boulevard In Place Concept Diagram

CURRENT SITUATION

1. BOULEVARD IN PLACE

The current transportation system centers on travel by cars and trucks as I-95 carries local, regional, and national traffic and Columbus Boulevard is a major local and regional artery with three traffic lanes in each direction and railroad in the center. The combined width of the roadways, together with a lack of accommodation for pedestrians, creates a visually and physically daunting barrier that makes it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to move easily from surrounding neighborhoods and along the waterfront.

The resulting redevelopment mixes land uses both horizontally and vertically in a walkable environment with clear connections west to the Pennsport neighborhood and east to the Delaware River.

To reimagine the future of the site and to connect Pennsport neighborhood to the riverfront, we first split into three groups to approach Christopher Columbus Boulevard in three distinct approaches, each illustrated by a Framework Plan.

Big box stores are reformatted to have a smaller, more urban footprint, and a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial typologies are added to create a place where residents can live, work, and play in addition to shop. Columbus Boulevard undergoes a road diet to reduce the number of lanes and add designated bus lanes, cycle tracks, green space, and wide sidewalks. TEAM MEMBER: DIAN YU PAT CONNOLLY STEWART SCOTT

Figure 37 Boulevard Reconfigured Concept Diagram

Figure 38 New Hierarchical Network Concept Diagram

2. BOULEVARD RECONFIGURED

3. NEW HIERARCHICAL NETWORK

We pictured that the new Boulevard locates closer to the waterfront. New street grids are reoriented while major east to west connectors are perpendicular to the river to provide a better view and physical connection for the South Philadelphia neighborhoods, as well as establishing the characteristics of this waterfront community. The reorientation of the street grids starts from Reed Street on the North, and ends at Wolf Street on the South. A direct road connection from Reed street towards the waterfront and Wolf Street will be proposed as the ring road for the study area. This reorientation also creates the view to the center city.

To create a “new hierarchy”, we envisioned compact mixed-use residential neighborhoods embedded with a continuous hierarchical green space network that interweaves with strong, walkable commercial centers.

TEAM MEMBER: KUANGYI TU SHAO-AN CHIU TIANSHU ZHANG

TEAM MEMBER: CLAUDIA A. ALIFF JUNWON KIM BENITA LILY CHENG YILIN REN

To achieve this, we did the following: • Made Columbus Blvd less dominant • Created a new, connected neighborhood that extends context of Philadelphia • Created a hierarchical Park system • Reinstated the wetland to promote healthy and sustainable waterfront

BOULEVARD IN PLACE Reed St.

The Boulevard in Place framework plan is loosely based on the 15 Minute City model, and the goals of this framework are to: 1. Extend the Pennsport neighborhood east after it was severed from the waterfront The goal is met with the creation of several blocks of townhomes typical of Pennsport in the central portion of the area west of Columbus Boulevard. Furthermore, east-west connections are emphasized throughout the redevelopment and additional programming under I-95. 2. Connect to the existing open space network by adding two substantial parks as attractions and environmental protection measures The goal is addressed with the addition of two parks. The first park south of Tasker Street and north of Pierce Street opens onto Columbus Boulevard and narrows to the east funneling visitors and residents to the Delaware River beyond. The second is north of the Port and primarily functions as a flood mitigation measure. 3. Urbanize existing big box stores to maintain service to the regional market while using the land in a more efficient and comprehensive manner The goal is achieved by redeveloping the current big box stores into mixed-use buildings with residential uses above and retail and other active uses on the ground floor. These mixed-use buildings are organized around a walkable street grid and parking is provided within structures instead of the expansive surface lots that exist today. 4. Create 21st century jobs beyond the existing retail positions, primarily by mixing life sciences and GMP manufacturing in addition to more traditional office space The goal is accomplished by building on the rearranged retail uses with the creation of a commercial corridor along Snyder Avenue that extends northward in the form of a new commercial-industrial hybrid typology. 30

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 39 Circulation diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 40 Land use diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 41 Boulevard In Place Framework Plan

As part of a complete neighborhood, this framework emphasizes the importance of an open space network that provides a variety of natural areas. Anchored by the riverfront park, the network expands westward into Pennsport via green corridors of tree-lined streets that not only improves aesthetics but also absorbs stormwater to decrease the chance of flooding. Two new parks – one south of Tasker Street and the other north of the Port – offer further connections between Pennsport and the riverfront, while also creating fresh attractions for new and long-time residents and providing important resilience capacities to handle flooding. Columbus Boulevard is also part of this network with a reduction in vehicular lanes to create room for additional green space and trees. Designated bus lanes and cycle tracks make it clear that this framework reduces the current dominance of cars by providing multiple modes of transportation so that the redevelopment is welcoming to all.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 42 Open space network diagram

Figure 43 Rendering of the redesigned Columbus Boulevard

Figure 44 Riverfront section

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave. Figure 45 Detailed Plan - Waterfront

Figure 46 Concept plan and goals

Figure 47 Major elements and land use

BOULEVARD RECONFIGURED Reed St.

Reconfiguring Columbus Boulevard provides two significant benefits: first, moving the Boulevard closer to the Delaware River waterfront may help support a more intensive use of land along the waterfront, and second, the existing car-oriented boulevard can be transformed from a separator into a connector that better serves the neighborhoods around. There are three major goals for the proposal: first, economic development is stimulated by building mixed-use buildings and new retail modes within the study area, while trying to find opportunities to retrofit some of the existing industrial properties. Second, a multi-modal urban network is introduced to reduce the dependence on automobiles. Third, open spaces are created at different scales with different programs to create a high-quality public realm that meets the needs of the neighborhoods and the city. The study area becomes a totally mixed-use environment with different density and heights in certain locations. High and mid-rise developments are proposed along the waterfront, while the smaller Philly-style rowhouse typology is utilized next to I-95 as an expansion of the Pennsport neighborhood. The development intensity near I-95 will be similar to that of Pennsport neighborhood so that in the future when I-95 is relocated underground, the developments on the two sides can be better connected. Closer to the waterfront, the development will be allowed to build higher to take full advantage of river views. In addition to moving the boulevard toward the waterfront, a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route is proposed along the new boulevard, and a transit hub will be located at the intersection of the boulevard and Snyder Avenue near the waterfront.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 48 Circulation diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 49 Land use diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 50 Boulevard Reconfigured Framework Plan

In this proposal, the existing Columbus Boulevard will be reconfigured as a pedestrian-friendly landscaped street. Half of the right-of-way is dedicated as streets for vehicles, and the other half will be a 50 foot wide linear landscaped event space. This central linear park system is integrated into a connected open space network that connects the Pennsport neighborhood with the waterfront. Two major parks anchor the north and south ends of the linear park, and we envision these two parks to be utilized for active and passive recreation, serving the adjacent neighborhoods and visitors.

As for the riverfront, the design integrates flood mitigation infrastructure that also serves as park amenity space. More prone to 100 year floods, the south half of the waterfront park features a natural environment, providing a stepping stone for migratory birds as well as a habitat for native plant species. The design also brings back the smooth gradient shoreline disrupted by industrial developments by creating a topography with a gradual change. The park embraces a naturalized bank with a design that includes local plantation, pedestrian and bicycle trails, and lawn areas for play and events.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 51 Open space network diagram

Figure 53 Columbus Park: North end of the linear park system

Figure 52 Detailed plan of Columbus Park

Figure 54 River edge approach: Hard Edge

Figure 55 River edge approach: Soft Edge

Figure 56 Detention Basin Park: South end of the linear park system

NEW HIERARCHICAL NETWORK Columbus Boulevard is at the forefront of the existing road hierarchy. To create a new hierarchy, the boulevard was merged and rerouted into Swanson Street to create a two-way north-south arterial. A new North-South river edge avenue was created to share the traffic load. Snyder Avenue will stay as a two-way arterial for eastwest traffic, and smaller one-way roads will maintain the walkability of the neighborhood while providing fluid traffic flow. A new hierarchy also means a connected neighborhood that extends the context of Philadelphia eastward. The walkable, non-vehicular focused street network is the backbone of this proposal. A hierarchical open space system weaved into the mixed-use urban fabric will provide better connections between the study area and adjacent neighborhoods, as well as to other parts of the city. The new hierarchy is reflected and reinforced by a large park system, including not only regional wetlands, but also smaller neighborhood parks. Along with the large east-west park, community gardens and a skatepark provide walkable connections through I-95 to the wetland park along the Delaware River. A green walkway with bike lane along the existing rail provides a north-south connection between green spaces. A transit hub is proposed at the intersection of the two main arterials. A carnival park located at the wetland edge will draw attention from other parts of the city to the waterfront. A lower adventure trail combined with a raised trail wandering through the waterfront wetland will provide recreation opportunities. A recreational canal system with flood control and recreation ponds will also be introduced into the site. Additionally, the historic warehouse to the south will have its facade and structure preserved, and will be reused as a semioutdoor public green space. Finally, the entire waterfront is expanded with natural landscapes and turned it into a resilient ecological and recreational asset for Pennsport residents and the greater Philadelphia area. 38

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 57 Circulation diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 58 Land use diagram

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 59 New Hierarchical Street Network Framework Plan

The site redesign mimics the skyline of Philadelphia, with a taller commercial core which is surrounded by residential low-rises. The “T” shape commercial corridor that is along I-95 and centered with the eastwest park will attract visitors to explore the public spaces and creates a walkable environment. A recreation canal extends along the east-west park to provide diverse water activities, dynamic urban views, and increments of flood tolerance. Connecting to the canal and controlled by water gates, two recreation ponds with floating islands also add excitement and resilience to the waterfront neighborhood. The eastwest park consists of public spaces with different functions, such as a food truck plaza for people to enjoy their meals, a large open lawn for various of activities from kite running to picnics, and a sculpture playground for kids to have fun.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 60 Open space network diagram

Figure 61 Detailed Plan of the East-West Park

Figure 62 Rendering Plaza

Figure 63 River Edge Section Civic Building and Wetland

Figure 64 River Edge Section showing Floating Islands

Figure 65 Boulevard Section

Pennsport Neighborhood: Karen Donnelly Park

PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS BOULEVARD IN PLACE

EXTENDING SOUTH PHILADELPHIA STEWART SCOTT

This project focuses on extending South Philadelphia closer to the Delaware River waterfront. This project was inspired by the diverse housing, parks, and street typologies that make up South Philly. Even in the uniformity of its two- and three-story rowhomes, tight one-way streets, and community parks that dot the region, there is great variety in each of them. Together and separate, these typologies create a series of “third spaces“ across the region. Parks in the region range in scale and programming, but they all fit neatly onto the South Philly street grid. Rowhomes, sometimes with businesses on the ground floor, enclose the parks, creating what Jane Jacobs calls “eyes on the street,” that creates safety and comfort for park users. South Philly rowhomes tend to be mostly brick, twoand three-story, but use use a host of materials, span across all decades and even centuries, and range from modest to grand. Some are even stacked apartment units cleverly disguised as rowhomes. In sum, they make for an interesting and ecclectic pedestrian experience. Much of the South Philly street grid is one-way. Some streets have parking lanes on either side of traffic, while others are so narrow they have no parking at all. The tightness of the South Philly street grid makes alleyways between compact rowhomes fairly common. This configuration makes for a series of unique urban spaces. Connecting South Philly to the waterfront has one huge impediment: the I-95 highway. It is a mental and physical barrier to the Delaware River. This project focuses on using the space underneath the highway to create a new community space that connects Pennsport to the redesign study area and the Delaware River waterfront beyond. Taking these three goals into consideration, this project seeks to use the I-95 underpass to connect 44

Pennsport to the riverfront and create a series of parks and alleyways that create flexible “third spaces“ for the community. With the site’s location right on the Delware River, climate change and the threat of sea level rise is an impending concern. This project incorporates environmental resilience by utilizing bioswales in the large wedge park to capture stormwater runoff and using permeable pavers for the entire green alleyway system.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 66 Land Use Diagram

Figure 67 Site Plan

Figure 68 3D Model of Site

Underpass Park will connect Pennsport to the redesigned stduy area, and out to the Waterfront. Instead of I-95 being a mental and physical barrier to the river, it is reinvisioned as a programmed and flexible park and “third space“. A community headhouse that is connected to a historic firehouse anchors the northern edge of the park while a skatepark

headhouse anchors the southern edge. The middle block of the park is reserved for active playspace with basketball courts and play areas for children. The outer edge of the park is framed by rowhomes that enclose the park.

Figure 69 Example of a glass headhouse. A8erna. Zaanstadt, Netherlands

Figure 70 Playspace between underpasses. Underpass Park. Toronto, Canada

Figure 71 Example of an underpass skatepark. Zaanstadt, Netherlands

Figure 72 Underpass Park Proposal Detailed Site Plan

Figure 73 Underpass Park Rendering

Figure 74 Underpass Park Section

Wedge Park will be a semi-flexible green space that serves as a transitional space between Pennsport and the Delaware River waterfront. Active and passive uses are envisioned here. The parks are enclosed by row homes that look onto the park, creating a sense of comfort typical to other parks in the region. Also, to accommodate the inevitabilities of climate change and sea level rise, the park will feature bio-retention at the western edge of the park fronting Columbus Boulevard. Figure 75 Example of small-scaled park: Cianfrani Park (Right)

Figure 76 Rendering of proposed active use at Wedge Park

Figure 77 Site Section

The green alleyway systems that permeate the site are intended to be intimate semi-private community gathering spaces. Permeable paving is incorporated into the design to manage stormwater. The shared street typology (pedestrian oriented but accommodates one-way motor and non-motor traffic) will further foster a sense of community among neighbors.

Figure 78 Example of a South Philadelphia alleyway (Right)

Figure 79 Rendering of Proposed Green Alleyway System

Figure 80 Section of Green Alleyway

Pennsport Neighborhood: E Moyamensing Avenue

PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS BOULEVARD RECONFIGURED

LIVING WITH WATER SHAO-AN CHIU

A resilient and livable waterfront district For decades, the site functioned as an important commercial hub with lots of big box stores that serves the nearby neighborhoods and the city. More recently, the Delaware River waterfront has been evolving with new waterfront landscapes and diverse programs. With the support of I-95 and Columbus Boulevard, the site will still be a valuable destination for commercial activities and has the potential to become a major node for living, working and recreational uses in South Philadelphia. Currently, two wetland parks have been developed or are proposed along the shoreline. One is the Washington Avenue Green in the north, and another is South Wetlands Park, proposed by OLIN. These are valuable assets to connect with by adjusting the existing shoreline to expand the wetland environment to mitigate flood risks. Therefore, the central issue was how to create a new relationship between urban development and the wetland. In more general terms, this project explores the opportunity to leverage the economy and environment in this unique location. This proposal is a chance to bring positive impacts to the neighborhoods and the city, and the idea was to interweave the waterscape and cityscape to establish a resilient district and to protect new developments. More importantly, the proposal provides a good transition from the neighborhood to the city while letting the neighborhood embrace the waterfront. Protection In most of the waterfront development projects, water is not only an asset, but also a threat. Therefore, the new developments in this project are situated further inland from the water, where the land has been elevated. These developments are protected by a new bulkhead, and this elevated edge creates resistance for risks of flooding and sea level rise. On the other hand, this topographic change also lets the surface water runoff flow to the central linear park, which is a bioinfiltration area that collects stormwater. 52

Placemaking Overall, this waterfront district will be an accessible, welcoming destination for locals and citywide visitors with new types of retails and transit services. Three major nodes are proposed within the site, which are designed for different objectives. • Riverside Active Zone This area is a citywide destination to enhance regional commercial activities while branding the district as a distinct place. The transportation center is located here, which helps people get to this location easily, and provides a ferry connection to Camden as well. The new protection wall separates an area called a “floodable promenade” from the developments and the paved river walk. The Floodable Promenade is a city-scale public space where people can walk down when there is no flooding or storm surge. As it gradually steps down to the water, it provides resistance in different degrees of water level rise. According to DVRPC flooding scenario, in 2100 the sea level could rise 3 feet, and in this case, the first part of the promenade will be inundated. • Eco-Hub The Eco-Hub promotes environmental education and increases employment opportunities, and it will become an anchor point at the end of Tasker Street and Reed Street. It will be integrated into a larger open space network that serves the South Philly neighborhoods. The Eco-Hub provides different types of environmental education opportunities, from outdoor landscaped park, indoor exhibition place to habitats. • Columbus Green Next to Snyder Avenue, Columbus Green is the spine of the entire site. It is a neighborhood gathering place, and it is where local businesses are located. It not only helps boost local businesses, but also allows people to have the opportunity to embrace green and blue assets. Moreover, the linear park with the bioswale system replaces the freight rail tracks in a meaningful transformation that exemplifies a different and resilient future for the site.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 81 Shoreline Adjustment & Wetland Expansion

Figure 82 Adjusted Framework Plan

Figure 83 Axonometric drawing of the new waterfront district

Figure 84 Riverside Active Zone: With sea level rises 6 ft

Figure 85 Eco-Hub: Ecological Learning & Restoration

Figure 86 Columbus Green: Central linear park with bioswale system

Figure 87 Riverside Active Zone: Commercial activities at river walk

Figure 88 Eco-Hub: Passive Park with Retention Pond

Figure 89 Columbus Green: A neighborhood gathering place

Figure 90 Site Plan

Figure 92 Birdeye view of the new waterfront district

Figure 91 East-west neighborhood connections to the waterfront

DEVELOPMENT

WETLAND

A THRIVING SYMBIOSIS YILIN REN AND KUANGYI TU

The Delaware River waterfront is a chain of valuable places that support urban dwellers’ daily lives with the breath-taking natural landscape and diverse recreation opportunities. Although the chain is scattered because of abandoned industrial piers, there is a strong potential to complete the chain of the thriving symbiosis and create a vital regional destination that highlights public realm networks and placemaking ideas through ecological restoration, resilient strategies, and cultural and educational programs. We decided to develop the area that centered on the triangular green island further to connect the neighborhood to the waterfront by expanding the landscape. A continuous green corridor will provide diverse programs and recreational opportunities while enlarging ecological benefits and connecting ecological systems upstream and downstream by providing habitats for migratory birds and aquatic species. Several secondary streets are rerouted for fluid vehicular flows in the north-south direction. The landscape will bridge over the Boulevard to connect the river’s edge. The Transit Center will be located next to the waterfront park, which includes bike and pedestrian trails. A new BRT route will run along the Boulevard. Bus routes will reroute along with the new circulation. The mixed-use commercial corridor from the previous reconfiguration framework remains. The historic pier will be a civic use fulfilling educational, commercial, and research purposes. This new framework with an enlarged park provides an expanded public realm incorporating ecological restoration and cultural and educational programs.

I-95

Figure 93 Site Section

By constructing natural defense lines and providing multiple programs, the waterfront neighborhood and neighborhoods inland will achieve social vitalization and increased tolerance towards natural disasters. To create a vital regional destination, we propose a symbiosis with dynamic landscapes that enables a healthy water cycle. People can find diverse activities, such as dwelling, observing, interacting, leisure, learning, and recreation, on this symbiosis. Three interrelated concepts - urban theatre, urban farm, and one water - will be developed to construct a system of vital urbanism, innovative retail methods, and diverse ecology.

VISION

PROPOSALS PROPOSALS

Urban Theater

Places Retail Innovative Retail Vital Third Places Vital Third Innovative methods methods

Ecological Resilience Ecological Regional Resilience connection Regional connection and Sustainability and Sustainability through public realm through public realm and ecological and ecological systems systems

Urban Farm

Urban Theater

Urban Farm One Water

One Water

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Figure 94 New Framework Site Plan

5ft

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Urban Theatre An urban theater that is created by an elevated open space stretches across seven blocks to the waterfront. The purpose of the elevation is to create a secondary dune to protect the urban area from floods and potential hazards caused by future sea level rise. It also creates a variety of outdoor spaces for bird-watching, art and sculpture, playgrounds, and event spaces. The topography will gradually elevate above the boulevard. The space under the elevated open space will be used for parking. There are four types of park edges. The west end will feature gradual topographic change that serves as the entrance to lead people from urban areas to explore the natural and dynamic landscape. Going towards the east, the slope of the park edge will increase. Stair-ramps will create walkable paths while providing spaces for social interaction. A sunken plaza located at the civic center will serve as a pocket park where people can relax and enjoy outdoor dining. Moreover, pedestrian ramps will take people up to the landscape park while turning the underground part of the boulevard to vehicular only. Urban Farm Water collected from stormwater infrastructure will be reused for irrigation and fish and freshwater mussel farming. Adult mussels will be planted into the Delaware River for water filtration purposes. Fish and agricultural products raised on-site will support local restaurants. More jobs can be created through new institutional programs under the urban farm concept. Farmers can sell their products at the new market on Pier 78. Overall, a hot tourism spot will be created through the urban farm concept and generate more revenues each year. The fish and freshwater mussel farms will be located in the terraced retention ponds and in the river near the preserved historic pier structure, which will be reused as a complex of freshwater mussel hatchery, water assessment institution, and education center. The south extension of the historic pier will become an indoor market. Additionally, the east end of the pier will only have its structure preserved and will be turned into an outdoor wet market as well as an observation deck where people can get closer to the water.

Figure 95 Park Edge Typologies Secondary Dune

Figure 96 Urban Theater Section

Primary Dune

URBAN THEATER

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Figure 97 Urban Theatre Detailed Plan 25

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Figure 98 Urban Theater Zoomed-in Section

URBAN FARM

One Water One water emphasizes a sustainable andConcept healthy diagram water cycle. A new topographic design with a 10 foot rise at the waterfront and a 5 foot rise inland will function as a part of the retention system. Runoff from higher residential and commercial areas will flow down and be captured by the lower retention basins. An agro-tourism hotel will be located above the transit hub at the waterfront. A plaza connects the transit hub with the renovated Pier 70 where visitors can find water activities and a new Riverlink ferry stop to Camden, New Jersey in the future. There will URBAN FARM be restaurants and retail shops facing the water on the second-floor above the transit hub. The rooftop of the second level can be used Concept for urban diagram farming. People can enjoy the food grown from the urban farm on the outdoor wood patio. 33

Designs under these three concepts interweave with each other and create a dynamic urban landscape that emphasizes both urbanism and resilience together to achieve a vibrant and healthy future.

Figure 100 Agro-tourism Hotel and Waterfront Rendering

Figure 99 Freshwater Mussel Restoration Program Concept Diagram

URBAN THEATER

URBAN Rooftop TerraceTHEATER 2 Mini

Rooftop Terrace

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URBAN FARM 1

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Permeable Paving

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Figure 101 Roof-top Farm Detailed Plan 2525

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Figure 102 Freshwater Mussel Farm and Waterfront Park Rendering

TOWARDS A RESILIENT AND GREEN WATERFRONT DIAN YU AND TIANSHU ZHANG

This proposal reconsiders the public realm and its role as a third place through three lenses: performance, resilience, and culture. There are two main strategies to achieve this. The first one is to create open spaces in different scales with different programs to meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and the city as a whole. The second one is to use resiliency design such as water infiltration systems and stormwater management strategies to mitigate sea level rise issues. Overall, the concept activates the urban space and connects with the existing community through consistent green space and resilient strategies. Based on the second framework of the Boulevard Reconfigured, the proposal provides enough green space for the riverfront wetland park and also creates an integrated community of mixed-use developments between I-95 and the Delaware River waterfront that can also provide better river views for this whole site. In addition, Christopher Columbus Boulevard is relocated closer to the waterfront but far enough away to allow for the widening of the waterfront. The area under I-95 is also included as part of the study area. For the transit system, there will be a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route along the new waterfront boulevard, and a transit hub will be located at the intersection of the boulevard and Snyder Avenue. The existing bus routes along Washington Avenue, Reed Street, Tasker Street, Snyder Avenue and Wolf Street will be rerouted to the site and directed to the waterfront boulevard. The existing Delaware River Trail will be extended along the waterfront to provide recreational opportunities. In general, the proposal envisions a pedestrian and bike friendly community that prioritizes public transit. The land use map to the right shows the study area. First, based on the general framework, two east-west green corridors connect the Delaware River waterfront to the Pennsport neighborhood. Second, there will be different types of mixed-use developments. From west to east, it will be residential row houses, mixedused B (mid-rise residential buildings over retail), and 64

mixed-use A (high-rise mixed-use). Third, the main corridor features an integrated public realm system.

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Figure 103 Circulation Plan

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Figure 104 Land Use and Corridors Plan

Reed Street

Tasker Street

Mifflin Street

Snyder Avenue

Wolf Street

Figure 105 Open Space Network Plan

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Figure 106 Transit System Map

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Figure 107 Land Use Plan

Mifflin Street

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Figure 108 Updated Framework Plan

WATER INFILTRATION SYSTEM The green corridors also serve as water infiltration systems, which collect surface runoff from the neighborhood and directs it to the waterfront wetland and then down to the Delaware River. The linear park will be used as a center of the site to develop a system for water infiltration and connect to the sewage system. On the map to the right, the blue dots along the waterfront are the combined sewer overflows to the Delaware River. We propose stormwater interventions for both Pennsport and the new development. Residential scale stormwater interventions are important to revitalize neighborhoods and manage the quality and volume of combined sewer overflow events. The green corridor itself features green and blue infrastructure, permeable surfaces, combined sewer overflows, street furnishings, and canopy trees and native stormwater plantings.

Tasker St.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave.

Figure 109 Water Infiltration System

Figure 110 Riverfront Section

Figure 111 Stormwater Intervention at Neighborhood Scale

PUBLIC REALM DESIGN The proposal inlcudes open spaces in different scales with different programs to better serve the community. Along the green corridor, better streetscape designs including street trees and green stormwater infrastructure connect with the Pennsport neighborhood. The proposal also includes an urban trail, skatepark, and outdoor playground. In the central area of the study area, there will be a civic park, which will serve as a respite for the community while also providing critical pedestrian connections to future developments. Next to the mid-rise developments are meeting spaces and plazas, and close to the high-rise buildings there will be a pocket park, a hard surface plaza and resting areas. Finally, a wetland park comprises the majority of the waterfront.

Figure 112 Detailed Site Plan of Under I-95

Reed St.

Tasker St.

Figure 113 Site Plan

Figure 114 Detailed Site Plan of the Waterfront Park

Figure 115 Rendering of the Waterfront Park

Pennsport Neighborhood: Dickinson Square Park

PUBLIC REALM PROPOSALS NEW HIERARCHICAL NETWORK

VILLAGE LINE CLAUDIA A. ALIFF

This project seeks to address Pennsport’s biggest issues of access, overpaving, and lack of diversity of uses and places with an intergenerational community. A successful intergenerational neighborhood is fundamentally heterogenous, dynamic, and walkable. Folks of all ages need to easily access shopping, services, and leisure even when mobility or time is limited. This extension of the Pennsport neighborhood would be a place where people could spread roots, agein-place, and is inviting and dynamic to move through and to. To do this, this proposal builds on the New Hierarchical Framework. Within that framework, what used to be Columbus Boulevard becomes a rail park that serves as the heart of the community. To improve access, the walls at Morris and Pierce Streets, a transit center, and an innerblock courtyard path between allows those coming from the southern side access to the park through a courtyard. The transit center on the new Columbus Boulevard and updated transit routes allow Philadelphians to visit and residents to connect within and outside of the site. As the neighborhood peels east from Columbus to the Delaware River, the scale changes from dense to residential. This allows for there to be a variety of housing typologies, ranging from micro-units to stacked and single-family townhomes and dedicated senior housing that serve users of all ages and types. Finally, the park is organized into three distinct nodes and Columbus Boulevard. The northernmost node is the Work-Study-Lounge Node, where schools, the public library, and offices coalesce and there is an abundance of open space that caters to their lunch, learning, and lounging needs. The next node is the Community Node, where community-directed space and services are located and folks of all ages are able to meet their most basic needs like health, food, etc.

Finally, the Play+Linger node at the southernmost point draws families in to play and hang out, and an enclosed park at the edge draws people into the smaller park from the large East-West Park. The shape and character of the park informs the uses around it as much as the other way around. It makes accessing the waterfront easier, creates a diverse and vibrant community, and gets rid of the over-paving problem currently in Pennsport. Catalyst sites in each nodes make the project feasible in phases.

Mifflin St.

Snyder Ave. Figure 116 Overall Site Plan

Figure 118 Columbus Blvd, collector street, local street

Figure 117 Different types of housing typologies

Figure 119 Nodes and commercial corridor

Figure 120 Plaza at Play-Work-Lounge Node

Figure 121 Transit Center at Columbus Blvd, with dedicated bus lanes ensuring swift access

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Figure 122 Detailed plan of the innerblock courtyard between Columbus Blvd and the rail park

Figure 123 Raised path and wall playground between the Community and Play+Linger nodes

Figure 124 Movie area at south end of park

Figure 125 South edge of park looking north, sculptural play allows parents to hang out while kids play

EAST WEST PARK BENITA LILY CHENG AND PAT CONNOLLY

The East West Park builds off of the proposed New Hierarchical Framework Plan, but approaches the park and public realm concept from the idea of a Circular Economy. Looking at the three systems of Food, Energy, and Water, the East West Park proposes to integrate these three systems within the site under the concepts of Harvesting, Enjoying, and Returning these resources in ways that engage with the public realm throughout the Park. Figure 126 Food System Diagram The East West Park proposal includes a central canal system that runs from the Delaware River, through the Park to meet I-95, echoing the larger concept of connecting the nearby neighborhoods to the Riverfront. Given that the Park is located within the 1% floodplain, and projected to be subject to additional flooding with sea level rise and extreme storm surges with climate change, we propose that the park serve as a sponge, and the canal serve as a key piece of stormwater management infrastructure.

We propose rooftop farms and green roofs that harvest stormwater, and contribute to hyper-local food production, to supplement existing food distribution sites that rely on national and global food delivery chains. These rooftop farms will then feed a neighborhood farmer’s market located within the park, as well as local food trucks situated between the park and the highway. Additionally, we propose an aquaponic farm that will serve as an additional closed loop circular food system that will generate additional food for the local neighborhood.

Figure 127 Energy System Diagram

New buildings that border the park will be Passive House designed to limit energy loss within building envelopes, and solar panels will be installed on the roofs of the office buildings proposed on the southern border of the East West Park. These solar panels will feed into a micro-grid that powers the site, heats the canal walls during cold months, and serves as a backup for the City of Philadelphia during emergencies. Figure 128 Water System Diagram Micro-turbines generate energy via the water in the canal that will also feed into the micro-grid. 78

Swanson St

Figure 129 Concept Diagram

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WATER’S EDGE Raised Berm Trail

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Water Control Gate

RECREATIONAL Recreational Splash Pad

Existing Warehouse (facade and structure)

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Recreational Canal Basketball Court Skate Park

ENERGY

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Canal Microturbines Rooftop Solar

Athletic Fields Dog Park Pool/Ice Rink

Figure 130 Site Programming Map

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And finally, the water system within the East West Park consists of blue roofs that capture stormwater. Excess stormwater from the green and blue roof system is stored within each building’s greywater tanks, and reused within buildings. Any overflows then flow into the canal, and any excess from the canal will overflow onto the Park that will act as a sponge. Additionally, stormwater storage detention reservoirs below the canal will hold excess stormwater for a slow release to Delaware River after major storm events. The canal serves to divide up the park into several subsections. At the easternmost edge, the canal will meet the Delaware River at a retention reservoir which is bordered by a protective berm. A walking path, connecting the riverfront Wetland Park to the north with the East West Park, will run along the uppermost portion of this berm. In current day conditions, the reservoir will hold several floating wetland islands, similar to the Midwest Floating Islands in St. Paul, Minnesota. There will also be a water control gate that controls the flow of stormwater out into the Delaware River. In projected flood conditions of 2100, the water is projected to flow over these gates and the protective berm will serve to protect the East West Park from up to 9 feet of inundation. As a second line of defense, there will be flood gates installed within the berm underneath the elevated Delaware Avenue South, running below the canal, to further protect the Park from inundation. In these

Solar Power

Pool/Ice Rink

Skate Park & Basketball Courts

Farmers Market Food Trucks

extreme flood conditions, the elevated Delaware Avenue South will become the new riverfront, and the public realm will exist vertically at both ground level, as well as at the level of the bridge. Within the park itself, there will be a seasonal pool and ice rink, such as at the Lasker Pool/Rink in Central Park, as well as dog parks, athletic fields, and a recreational splash pad, separated by branches of the canal. The western portion of the park extends under I-95 with basketball courts and a skate park to the Pennsport neighborhood beyond. Each subsection of the park is programmed differently to meet different needs and in contrast to the more natural design of the riverfront Wetland Park. Concurrent with these open spaces, we propose an economic corridor along Snyder Ave. to create a variety of job opportunities and therefore a complete neighborhood. The innovative mixed-industrial typology provides a space for new and existing industrial uses in the base and new office and lab environments above that drape down to meet Snyder Ave. The resulting public realm is an alternating environment between active ground floor uses in double-story lobbies and intimate courtyards and rooftop gardens above. Overall, this proposal centers on a green connector between Pennsport and the Delaware River waterfront that provides a new vision and framework for this portion of Philadelphia.

Dog Parks & Athletic Fields

Figure 131 Vertical Integration of Blue Green and Recreational Systems

Rooftop Farms Recreational On-Site Composting Splash Pad

Aquaponic Farm

Blue Roofs

Raised Berm Trail

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Micro Turbine Floating Wetlands

Raised Berm Trail

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Water Control Gate

Retention Reservoir

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Figure 132 Rivers Edge Section: Current Day and in 2100 Flood Conditions

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Figure 133 Elevated Delaware Avenue South Bridge: Current Day and in 2100 Flood Conditions

Figure 134 Canal’s End of East West Park

Figure 135 Underpass Public Realm

Figure 136 Summer Recreational Pool

Figure 137 Winter Ice Rink as Gathering Space

Figure 138 Industrial Public Realm Along New Snyder Avenue

GREEN BLUE PENNSPORT WATERFRONT DISTRICT JUNWON KIM

The importance of the strategic framework plan against the climatic uncertainty, monopolized ownership patterns, and car oriented landscapes in the Pennsport Waterfront District demostrate the hybridization between the public realm and resilient strateges are highly required to make a sustainable community for the city of Philadelphia. Based on the New Hierarchical framework, the Pennsport Waterfront District becomes the regional green destination with different hierarchical open space arrangements and functions. There are four main ideas. The first idea is transforming I-95 into a farming highway as a test bed of urban farming that could generate community green jobs. The I-95 highway is the most significant barrier separating the neighborhood and the waterfront. Thus, I-95 is moved underground and is tightly connected to the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) water management systems that use sustainable irrigation water filtered through the East West Park. Agricultural products harvested from the farming highway can be distributed to Philadelphia and regional areas through the regional bus system connected to the transportation center located at the center of the community, or delivered to the community for fresh consumption without going through complicated distribution process. In doing so, the farming highway creates a healthy industry and functions as a connection between the existing community and the new community. The second idea is a floodable edge that mitigates the flooding risk from the sea level rise. Currently, the waterfront of Pennsport is one of the most vulnerable areas of the sea level rise in Philadelphia. Many research institutes are predicting up to a 5 to 6 foot increase by 2100. To mitigate the environmental effects, the waterfront edge is set back to the flood line along the little boulevard and is elevated up to 10 feet higher. With those strategies, wetland restoration will be processed similar to the pre-industrial coastline of Philadelphia. The floodable edge will have a gradient border that is occupied by upland, transitional 84

community, high marsh and low marsh. This gradient edge will mitigate the effect of sea level rise and provide habitat for the native species of Philadelphia. Therefore, the floodable edge strategy will address the climatic uncertainty issue, while integrating biodiversity and human recreation. Compared to the two edges protecting the neighborhood on both sides, the third public realm idea is an anchor transportation center that provides core community assets. The anchor transportation center is a transit hub linked to the main connector street. The transportation park is connected by the new Columbus Boulevard, waterfront connector, rail park, neighborhood connector, LRT linear park and farming connector. Moreover, it provides shelter for the underprivileged community by proposing the public private partnership between SEPTA and other food delivery service companies. Lastly, the breathing boulevard is the distributor of the green and blue elements with multimodal transit. The boulevard is equipped with a GSI system that transfers collected water to the East West Park, and this water is filtered by weltands and reused for the irrigation of community agricultural purposes. In addition, the Boulevard generates electricity that could be used by the community agriculture and other urban amenities by installing wind turbines at the median of the road. Furthermore, the breathing boulevard transforms into temporary event space that provides a movable barbershop, living room, playground for children and swimming pool. By doing so, the boulevard harmonizes the alive street with green energy landscape. Through these four main ideas that bring resiliency and protect our vulnerable community, the Green Blue Pennsport Waterfront District could synchronize the current DRWC’s waterfront plan and help to reinvent the identity of the future Philadelphia waterfront district.

Snyder Ave.

Mifflin St.

Tasker St.

Reed St. Figure 139 Framwork Plan

Figure 140 Adaptive Waterfront Edge by Sea Level Rise

Figure 141 Farming Belt

Figure 142 Water Management

Figure 143 Distribution

Figure 144 Weaving Edge

Figure 145 Protecting Edge

Figure 146 Resilient Edges

Figure 147 Floodable Waterfront Edge

Figure 148 Water Management Framework for Farming Highway

Figure 149 A typology of Farming Highway integrated to the water management system

Figure 150 Transportation Park

Figure 151 A typology of Breathing Boulevard

Figure 152 Transportation Center as absorber of connector streets

Pier 68 Park

CONCLUSION This portion of the Delaware Riverfront currently is an auto-oriented environment of big box stores, large parking lots, and wide roadways. With changing retail trends, increasing housing demands, and a growing likelihood of flooding due to sea level rise, the area must be reimagined into a more sustainable and equitable place. This studio investigated three alternative frameworks based around Columbus Boulevard: the Boulevard in Place, the Boulevard Reconfigured, and a New Hierarchical System. Each framework included mixed-use developments that connect both to the Pennsport neighborhood to the west and the Delaware River waterfront to the east. Although varying in density, height, and land use allocation, each framework prioritized multi-modal transportation, walkability, open space, and resiliency to envision a brighter and more equitable future. Once the three frameworks were elaborated on, the second half of the studio allowed for individual and partner exploration of more specific elements. Accommodating flooding and sea level rise is the most common issue addressed, but the proposals range in size and detail and all take a multi-faceted approach to each particular study area. Each presents a compelling vision for the 21st century public realm that is holistic, equitable, and resilient.

University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design May 2021